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Suggest Treatment For Severe Shortness Of Breath
Question: I'm experiencing shortness of breath after exerting myself with simple tasks and walking up stairs.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HealthcareMagic!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that it is important to investigate the possible causes underlying your complaints.
Among the possible causes of difficulty in breathing, I would mention:
- heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy
- a lung disorder ( pulmonary infection or an allergic reaction)
- an expression of acute cardiac ischemia (after 12plus years the bypass grafts are rarely closed and cardiac ischemia can occur )
- uncontrolled hypertension can lead to such symptoms during physical exertion
- chronic anemia can mimic this symptomatology too.
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your doctor for a careful physical examination and the following tests:
- a resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound
- a chest X-ray study and pulmonary function tests
- complete blood count
- cardiac enzymes
- NT-pro-BNP levels
- liver and renal function tests
- fasting glucose levels
- thyroid hormone levels.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Please feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HealthcareMagic!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that it is important to investigate the possible causes underlying your complaints.
Among the possible causes of difficulty in breathing, I would mention:
- heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy
- a lung disorder ( pulmonary infection or an allergic reaction)
- an expression of acute cardiac ischemia (after 12plus years the bypass grafts are rarely closed and cardiac ischemia can occur )
- uncontrolled hypertension can lead to such symptoms during physical exertion
- chronic anemia can mimic this symptomatology too.
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your doctor for a careful physical examination and the following tests:
- a resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound
- a chest X-ray study and pulmonary function tests
- complete blood count
- cardiac enzymes
- NT-pro-BNP levels
- liver and renal function tests
- fasting glucose levels
- thyroid hormone levels.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Please feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thanks for the information. I have scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist
who I know is familiar to me as I used him in the past but last saw him 2 years ago
before being referred to a general practice Dr who I last visited 6 months ago. At
that time he mentioned I had a heart murmur but didn't recommend anything for it.
My question is: The appointment is in 5 days and while my symptoms have gone
down and I'm sleeping soundly; is this serious enough for me to not wait until then?
By the way; all the tests you recommend were performed by the cardiologist over the years and
even included a blood pressure 24 hour halter which he said showed I have white-coat
syndrome.
who I know is familiar to me as I used him in the past but last saw him 2 years ago
before being referred to a general practice Dr who I last visited 6 months ago. At
that time he mentioned I had a heart murmur but didn't recommend anything for it.
My question is: The appointment is in 5 days and while my symptoms have gone
down and I'm sleeping soundly; is this serious enough for me to not wait until then?
By the way; all the tests you recommend were performed by the cardiologist over the years and
even included a blood pressure 24 hour halter which he said showed I have white-coat
syndrome.
Brief Answer:
Your situation can wait until consulting with your doctor.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I understand your concern and would explain that you can wait until consulting with your doctor (after 5 days), for a careful physical exam and the above mentioned tests.
There is no reason to go to the ER for the moment.
I would just recommend avoiding straining physical activity in the next days.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Let me know about everything!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Your situation can wait until consulting with your doctor.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I understand your concern and would explain that you can wait until consulting with your doctor (after 5 days), for a careful physical exam and the above mentioned tests.
There is no reason to go to the ER for the moment.
I would just recommend avoiding straining physical activity in the next days.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Let me know about everything!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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